Professor Donna Hall has been described as a “public service pioneer” by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. She was awarded a CBE in 2009 for innovation in public service. She was CEO of Wigan Council for 8 years and developed The Wigan Deal – a new relationship with residents which delivered 160 million savings and improved services and resident satisfaction. She is now the chair of the innovative national think tank New Local and the Chair of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. She was appointed as an Honorary Professor of Politics at the University of Manchester in August 2019 and is a Non-Executive Adviser to Birmingham City Council. Adopted as a child she is passionate about person-centred public services and communities.